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What’s next for online gambling in Canada?

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Having provided the perfect case study for the benefits of legalised online gambling in Canada, we caught up with Bede’s Chief Executive Officer, Colin Cole-Johnson, to discuss why other provinces may look to follow Ontario’s example in the future and what challenges operators will need to be ready for when they do.

With the regulated online gambling market in Ontario recently being recognised as one of the largest in the world, operators will feel there’s plenty of untapped potential to be realised not just in the province itself, but in Canada as a whole, over the coming months. And for good reason too.

Since legalising online gambling in 2022, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has established a go-to framework for how regulators introduce rules and standards that protect players and enable operators to flourish – and no better is this illustrated than in the performance of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), which has continued to make a hugely positive contribution in the province over the past few years.

Having already paved the way for successful open market regulation through a number of progressive initiatives, with even more yet to come – such as the proposed centralised self-exclusion model –  it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see other organisations turn to AGCO as an example of how regulations can be introduced both sustainably and profitably; and this will likely present several opportunities for operators as well.

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From Bede’s experience in the country, Canadian regulators are thorough and well organised. Any province looking to follow the success of Ontario will no doubt look to AGCO for inspiration, and this may lead to similar regulatory frameworks in other new territory launches. As the gaming community in Canada is so connected, we’ve already seen cross-operator interest in sharing regulatory knowledge, meaning there’s a wealth of information waiting to be leveraged.

As the most likely province to regulate next, Alberta has already shown a preference for following an open-market model similar to Ontario’s, with the input of various industry stakeholders set to guide the way. The onboarding process for operators seeking to enter this potentially vibrant new market is likely to follow promptly after the new framework is enacted, so existing experience and relationships within the Ontario market should prove advantageous for those looking to hit the ground running.

For Bede, our years working closely with AGCO leave us well positioned to enter additional provinces in the future, and we greatly value the guidance and support we gain from having a direct relationship with the regulator. We aspire to grow even further in Canada by forming more provincial partnerships, and our learnings from Ontario will undoubtedly form a key part of this.

Internally, we have a strong framework for new market entry and regulatory compliance that includes cross-functional representation across the business. We understand the heavy lifting that goes into a launch and the complexity of licensing and delivering a new technical solution. Our approach always involves an analysis of the requirements from a compliance, risk, audit and financial perspective, as well as identifying any gaps where our products can make an impact with the right strategic solutions.

Taking the Ontario market as an example, we’ve seen some noticeable changes in player behaviour in recent years, meaning operators must be prepared to adapt in order to keep up with emerging trends. Although we’ve seen growth for our partners in the digital space, retail remains a predominant revenue stream for Canadian operators. As digital continues to grow, it’s important to provide a seamless end-to-end experience for players across channels, to be effective omni-channel solutions.

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As more choice becomes available in the market, offering competitive payment and withdrawal options will be important. A critical part of the player journey that is often overlooked is the preference among players for easy access to preferred payment methods. A great example of innovation in this area is our Lottery Direct Pay method, where players can purchase tickets directly from their card without first having to load their wallet – creating a faster user journey that appeals to a wider audience.

Aside from these payment considerations, it’s worth noting that community engagement features and personalisation are both playing a more prominent role in the Canadian gaming landscape. Particularly among younger audiences, having the ability to offer a shared experience is becoming increasingly important to generating sustained engagement. For example, we’ve already seen OLG enjoy a significant uplift in overall ticket sales since launching the innovative Lottery Group Play tool.

Similarly, the power of personalisation cannot be understated when it comes to building player activity and retention. Through partnerships with companies such as XtremePush and Future Anthem, Bede has endeavoured to utilise more machine learning and AI systems that can broaden the customisation options available for customers, while our dynamic segmentation tool enables them to target user groups more effectively and automate the player journey in real time.

Of course, from the moment Ontario launched a legalised online gambling framework, regulators were required to focus their efforts on keeping up with increased accessibility and, therefore, increased risk of harm to the public. Should another province like Alberta also legalise online gambling in future, the same challenges will exist – and this presents an important opportunity for operators to both educate players on responsible gaming protocol and enforce it.

Given Bede has been operating in highly regulated markets for over 13 years, we have both an established suite of RG tools and in-depth knowledge of how to use them effectively. Evidenced in the UK market and beyond – Bede has developed its platform to meet the tightening controls that have been issued over every aspect of online gambling – enabling operators to create their own tailored mix of tools that best support their players.

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Notably, the upper limit functionality in our RG toolset gives our customers the option to monitor and respond to potential problem behaviour by setting maximum limits for specific players. The players may opt to further decrease their own limits, but they’ll be unable to exceed the maximum setting until/unless the operator removes them, reducing the harm they could potentially experience. As well as outright prevention, being able to educate a player in such a moment is equally important – and using our platform, operators can send appropriate, personalised messages to users that encourage them to alter their play and even think about setting time out periods where necessary. For example, our partners can use our Player Interaction feature to set alerts from the front end based on pre-defined player behaviours, and then use that information for RG activities; if a player returns to a page a certain number of times, it can automatically trigger personalised messages to encourage the player to set a limit.

As responsible gaming is a constantly evolving topic in Ontario and other new markets in Canada are likely to experience similar growing pains, supporting regulatory efforts through the smart adoption of harm prevention tools will be a key part of gaining a foothold. This, coupled with the other regional considerations we’ve outlined in this article will be crucial to any operator’s future success in the country; and there are definitely big opportunities on offer for those who get it right.

The post What’s next for online gambling in Canada? appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Prime Skill Games Inc. Official Response to AGCO Press Release

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As CEO of Prime Skill Games Inc., I feel compelled to address recent comments made by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regarding so-called unapproved gambling machines in convenience stores across the province.

Let me be perfectly clear

Our machines are not gambling devices. They are entirely skill-based, fully compliant with the law, and built on the fundamental idea that players are in control. The outcome of every session is determined solely by the player’s ability, not by random chance.

Prime Skill Games is proud to be the only true skill game operating in Ontario today.

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We categorically reject any suggestion that our products fall under the definition of unregulated gambling. Such statements are inaccurate, misleading, and fail to recognize the critical distinction between games of skill and games of chance.

We stand firmly behind the legality of our machines and the integrity of our operations. We will demonstrate this through every available means, whether through legal documentation, expert analysis, or, if necessary, before the courts. We are prepared and unafraid to defend the truth.

To our players, partners, and business community, we want to reassure you that our mission has not changed. We are committed to offering a responsible, transparent, and innovative entertainment experience. We will not be intimidated by broad and baseless accusations, and we will continue to move forward with strength and clarity.

 

Sincerely

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Matt Zamroźniak

Chief Executive Officer

Prime Skill Games Inc.

The post Prime Skill Games Inc. Official Response to AGCO Press Release appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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AGCO takes action to remove unapproved gambling machines from Ontario convenience stores

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is continuing its efforts to combat unregulated gambling and protect the public. As part of these efforts, the AGCO took steps this week to revoke the lottery seller registrations of a number of retailers in the GTA that were found to be offering unapproved electronic gambling machines under the Prime Slot brand.

The AGCO regulates all gambling in the province of Ontario to ensure gambling products and gaming sites are held to high standards of game integrity, player safety, and the protection of minors and vulnerable individuals.

Over the past decade, unregulated gaming machines have increasingly proliferated across North America. While they largely rely on chance like traditional slot machines, manufacturers have claimed they are games of skill and have installed terminals in convenience stores and other locations where gaming machines would otherwise be prohibited.

The AGCO will continue to take every action within its authority to protect the public against the risks that these unregulated machines pose – particularly in locations easily accessible to children and youth.

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A registered lottery seller served with a Notice of Proposed Order to revoke their registration has the right to appeal the AGCO’s action within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.

“Unapproved gambling machines have no business being in convenience stores or other locations, particularly those that are available to children and youth. ” – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO

Background:

Under Section 10(b) of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar shall refuse to register an applicant as a supplier or to renew the registration of an applicant as a supplier if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will not act as a supplier in accordance with law, or with integrity, honesty, or in the public interest.

Under Section 12 of the Gaming Control Act, the Registrar may propose to suspend or to revoke a registration for any reason that would disentitle the registrant to registration or renewal of registration under section 10 if the registrant were an applicant.

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AGCO Updates Responsible Gambling Training Standards for Gaming and Lottery

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As of July 11, 2025, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) no longer requires Registrar approval for responsible gambling (RG) training programs for casino and lottery employees. This change applies to both the Gaming and Lottery Standards and supports a more flexible, outcomes-based approach.

What’s changing

• Standard 2.5 has been updated to remove the need for Registrar approval of RG training.

• Training must still be mandatory, regularly updated, and based on best practices.

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• Employees must understand responsible gambling, their role in player protection, and how to support those showing signs of gambling harm.

What this change means for operators and lottery retailers

• Casino and lottery operators now have more flexibility to design and update RG training.

• Existing PlaySmart training remains valid.

Why this change matters

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This change reduces red tape, encourages innovation, and maintains Ontario’s high standards for player protection. This also aligns with AGCO’s outcomes-based regulatory approach and brings greater consistency across gaming sectors, including iGaming.

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